Vault ventilator mechanism



y 1932- c. b. ELLITHORPE 1,861,000

VAULT VENTILATOR MECHANISM Filed Nov. so, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1' II; fill I lNVENTOR [Niki/V65 0. 24 O/FPE y 19324 c. D. ELLITHORPE 1,861,000

VAULT VENTILATOR MECHANISM Filed Nov. 30, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y I c. D. ELLITHORPE 1,861,000

VAULT VENTILATOR MECHANISM Filed NOV. 30, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' Patented May-31, 1932,

rim-ran srarss rArsN'r oiFFIcs QLARENCE .1 ELLi-THQB-PE; 9 filRlN p AR ENS, N W K, GNQB DU LEX ELEQ EIQ @QI IPANY; Q Y RK. Y, CORP RATION OF D R viwL'r vnnrn aron MEGIIANISM Application filed November 30, 1928. Serial No. 322,706.

Th s nvention relates o animp o sment in eme gen y v nt lato s for ba k vau ts and other no m l y air-tight burg ar p oof rooms us d for the torage of v lu bles, money or the like, 7

011s f t e object o he in ention is to provide an emergency ventilator for the purp se de cribed which will be p rmanently locat d in he walls of h vault an Wil be urgl r-proof from t e ex erio thereof, and a t e s me time Wi l prov de mean eadily op r bl by a per n ntrapp d in the vault, o op n the ventilator and ta cir ulation f a r t rough he vau t- A o he objec of th invention is to proide a forced d a t vault venti ator which is p man n ly s cur d i walls of he vault and w ich may b as y ope ab e to openth inte or o t ault for the ci culati uoif s r cheret roug and which wi eff c i e y pre e t a mpt o bu glar es the au t gh he entilat open ng,-

Anoth r o j ct f the inventi n is to pr ide an me g n y vault ve tilator oi the yp desc b whi h may be read ly and per.- anently ins led in n op n ng is he vau t Well an wh h w ll b re y for nstsntane: 011s r ie f r venti ating th vault in any emergency and which will not through leng d u e, b me s u k in po i ion or be rendered otherwise inoperative, I

A he bject f he invention is to provide an emergency vault venii lator to be perm nt y m u te i the Walls o the ault which can be r adily and e s ly on ruc ed, consisting of a minimum number of paristo secure he de ired fu ions, and at a r atively low cost of production.

oth j c of the in e ti n s o erovide an improved vault ventilating mechanism having separateintake and .ontlet con.- cluits for the proper circulation of within the vault, and a single lever mechanism for P J' iIi-g he c dr ft v n ator into po i ion with gr at p dity. m n um of st fort and unusual reliability. I

Various other objects and ag'lvgntgiges of h n n ion wi l appear a th dsse iption pros ceds.

1 Referring n w s the raw ngs which dicate a preferred form of embodiment of the inventi n,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device in its inoperative position on the inside wall of the vault, I

Fig. 2 is a part sectional view approximates ly on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 showing the location of the ventilator with reference to the vault wall.

F ig 3 is a. View similar to Fig, 2 with the fan ventilator lowered and the sealing plug loosened.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

i Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the collar plates and locking cam on the line 55 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the ventilator tube showing the ventilator in operative position for causing a flow of air into and out r 0f the vault, V v

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the automatic switch.

The vault ventilator mechanism hereinafter to be described cooperates with a ventilator' sleeve 10 adapted to be imbedded in the vault wall 12 which is usually of concrete or similar material. The sleeve 10 is of small diameter but large enough to allow for a frequent renewal of the air in the vault and is adapted to be installed either in a new vault a h a is b ing con ruct d o i may be suitably placed in an .old well by having the proper size hole cut therein. The sleeve is adapted to be coextensive with the thickness of the vault wall and will be flush with the outer side. A suitable mounting plate 1 is provided on the inner wall and will be provided with suitable depressions 14a to receive the inner extension of the sleeve 10. Mount- :3-

ing screws 15 are used to secure the plate is to the wall and they may preferably be of the expanding screw variety. Collars .or other equipment projecting means 16 are secured to the exterior surface of the sleeve L0 and project into the wall to resist relative longitudinal movement of the sleeve under 19 1- glarious attack.

In order to positivelyclraw fresh airintp the au t an to insure tha the foul a r will be forced out thereby changing the air at frequent intervals, a motor driven fan ventilator 18 is mounted on an intake conduit 20 communicating with and pivoted to conduit 20a within the sleeve 10. The conduits 20 and 20a are projected through the sleeve in such manner that air may be drawn into and expelled from the vault when desired and while the ventilator 18 is inoperative, the ventilating sleeve 10 is sealed in an air-tight, liquid tight and burglar proof manner. This is accomplished by the sealing plug 22 connected to the conduit 20a and provided with the outwardly tapered head 24- which coopcrates with the beveled sides 10a of the outer end of the ventilating sleeve 10.

The sealing plug 22, which is preferably a solid steel plug of sufficient length, is affixed to the conduit 20a cooperating with and in continuation of the intake conduit 20. The end of the conduit 20a is provided with suitable screw threads 21 on which the plug 22 may be adjusted for different lengths of ventilating sleeve necessary with different thickness of vault wall. Transverse screws 22b cooperate with the plug 22 and conduit 20a to prevent loosening or removal of the plug 22.

A locking knuckle 26 pivotally connects the intake conduit 20 and the conduit 20a cooperating therewith providing the pivoted connection 28, thus permitting the ventilator motor and intake conduit 20 to be positioned parallel to and against the vault wall when not in use. In this position, the sleeve 10 in the vault wall is effectively sealed by the sealing plug 22 which is tightly drawn into the outer end and by the mounting plate 14: positioned on the interior end. The plate Ll mounted on the interior of the vault'wall supports the collar members 30 and 31 which cooperate with the inner end of the sealing tube 20a and with the locking knuckle oining the two portions of the intake conduit in a manner to be hereinafter described.

In view of the fact that the sealing plug 22 must be air-tight, liquid-tight and burglarious proof in the tube 10, it is essential that the plug be drawn into extremely close contact with the outer end of the tube and for this purpose I have provided a cam mechanism comprising the semi-circular locking collars 30 and 31, as shown in Fig. #1, pivoted at 32 and 33 on the mounting plate 14, and provided with the projecting cam lugs 35 and 36, respectively.

As shown principally in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the projecting cam lugs 35 and 36 have an overhanging portion which cooperates with cam surface 26a on the locking knuckle 26. The cam surface 26a extends along and projects from the sides of the knuckle and is relatively closer to the pivot 28 at the end 286 than at the other end, tapering off near the end 28?) so that the overhanging cam lugs 35 and 36 on the locking collars may be brought into contact with the cam surface 26a in the horizontal position of the ventilator when the collar members 30 and 31 are moved from the open to the closed position of the ventilator. As shown in Fig. 3, the locking collars have been moved from the closed position to the open position by swinging around their pivots 32 and 33.

The cam surfaces 26a project from the locking knuckle 26 and Contact with the overhang of the projections 35 and 36 so that the movement of the knuckle around the pivot 28 will cause slight longitudinal movement of the tube 20a and plug 22 in the ventilating sleeve 10 because of the shape of the cam 26a to either draw the end of the plug tightly against the beveled end 10 of the ventilating tube or to slightly move the plug 22 out of the tube as shown in Fig. 3.

In other words, by moving the locking knuckle about the pivot 28 to move intake conduit 20'into horizontal position, which is a single downward lever action of the motor and conduit, the cam surfaces exert a tremendous pressure longitudinally on the conduit 2011, thus forcing the steel plug 22 from the sleeve 10. This is particularly shown in Fig. 3 where the sealing plug 22 has been forced from the end of the sleeve 10 a sufiicient amount to break the seal between the surfaces 10a and 24, the force being amply suflicient to overcome any resistance due to rusting of the plug against the sleeve or any other bond and will thus allow the operator to further project the sealing plug from the sleeve with very little physical effort.

After the sealing plug has been unsealed, by the single downward movement of the conduit 20 and motor 18 to horizontal position,,as shown in Fig. 3, the locking collars 30 and 31, having the reduced semi-circular apertures 30b and 31b which cooperate with the conduit 20a to close the inner end of the sleeve, will be released and will drop to the i osition shown in Fig. 4:. The entire openmg 105 of the interior diameter of the sleeve 10 is thus opened and the locking knuckle including the intake conduit 20 may be pushed into the sealing tube 10 to the position shown in Fig. 6, the sealing plug 22 being projected some distance beyond the exterior surface of the vault wall. The reduced interior end of the sealing plug 22 is provided with a suitable aperture 22a which opens communication with the interior of the conduits 20 and 20a and the ventilator fan 18 to the atmosphere. The fan of the motor ventilator is thus provided with an intake conduit open to the air outside the vault and, as the fan revolves, a continuous source of fresh air is drawn through the central intake conduit and expelled into the vault through the apertures 18a in the ventilator housing. The conduits 20 and 20a are provided with the necessarycooperating joints 23 so that in the aligned positiomthe conduits" are substantially coextensive and fresh air may thus be drawn through the opening 22a without contamination from any foul-air.

The foul air. escapes from the vault through the opening between the intake conduits 20 and 20a and the interior of the sealing sleeve 10. In this respect, will benoted that the inlet of the intake conduit projects some distance beyond the wall of the vault and beyond the outlet of the foul air so that fresh air may be drawn in. A skid 260 on the locking knuckle centers the conduit in the sleeve 10 as shown in Fig. 6, and the collar 180 on the fan housing rests upon the ledge formed by the collars and 31 to support the motor and fan in axial line with the sleeve 10. The aperture 18?) in the fan housing through which the fresh air is expelled is some. distance inward of and above the opening in the mounting plate through which the foul air escapes so as to insure proper circulation of the fresh air through the vault.

To close the tube 10 and restore the tilator and intake conduit to inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the conduit is drawn into the vault as far as possible until the locking knuckle 26 is clear of the mounting plate 14. The locking collars; 30 and 31 are next placed in position with the projecting lugs 35 and 36 overhanging the cam surfaces 26a on the locking knuckle 26. It will be noted in Fig. 5, however, that although the overhang on the projection 35 provides a flat contact-with the inner face of the cam 260, the face of the locking collar has an angular bevel 30a contacting with the external surface of the locking knuckle 26 which is also beveled at :26?) providing a dovetail connection which, when the locking knuckle is turned to the vertical position of Fig. 1, will draw the outer end of the plug 22 firmly into the end ofthe tube 10 and likewise lock the collars 30'and 31 in place, eflectively preventing opening of the collars until the motor and fan nag-am swung into horizontal position.

In this way the inner surface of the cam 26a cooperates with the overhanging lugs 35, -36 to force the outerend of the plug 22 slightly from the end of the sleeve 10 (Fig. 3) when the motor is brought to horizontal position and theoutersurface of the cam 26a and the bevel 26b'cooperates with the bevel 30a on thecollars 30 and 31 to draw the tube 22 firmly into the end of the sleeve 10 and, at the same time, lock the collars 30 and '31 in closed position. The particular shape of the cain surfaces is shown in Figs. '2, 3 and 5, the

hidden parts 'being'illustrated by dotted outline. Adjustingscrews 300 and 310 are -pro vided in the collars 3'0 and '31, respectively, which contact with the mounting plate and may be varied in order ltOiflLlijllSil .thecamsurfaces with respect to irregularities, in the mounting plate orvault wall. Half round depressions 30d. and 31d in the collars 30 and 31 cooperate with the central lug 37 to .center the collars in the closed position.

retained in upright position by the combination clamp and automatic switch 36 mounted on the face plate 14 and having the retaining actuating arm 38, as shown "in greater detail in Fig. 7. The retaining switch arm 38 is of suflicient size to receive the intake conduit 20 when it is. in the dotted position 38a and, .under such circumstances, the switches 39 and 40will be in their operative position. When the intake conduit 20, however, is held in upright position, the switch actuating element 38 will be forced into the inoperative position by the engaging portion 386 which contacts with the intake conduit 20. This also brings the element 38 into retaining position and the switches 39 .and 40 are swung to their ofi position. The switch actuating arm is pivoted on the pivot 38b and is provided with a pair of toggle operating fingers 380 and 38d which operate the toggles of the switches 39 and 40. The switches are adapted to operate the ventilator motor and the light 41 in the well known manner. The connections 42 from the switches 39 and 40 will pass through a suitable electrical conduit i3 in the vault wall.

In operation, assuming that a bank employee or other person is accidentally locked in a vault which is air-tight in nature and who would ordinarily be doomed to sufiocation in a comparatively short time,'it will only be necessary with the present vault ventilator mechanism to merely grasp the oper :ating handle 44 of the ventilator motor, pulling it to the horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, at which time the switch is opened.

lighting the light, starting the fan motor, an d operating the alarm signal. As the ventilator motor and the intake conduit reach the horizontal position, the locking knuckle 26., having-the cam surfaces 26a thereon, cooperates with the projections 35., '36 on the locking collars, breaking the seal of the sealing plug 22 with the end of the tube 10. The operator of the device will then release the looking collars 30, 31 on the mounting plate which may be made to drop .down by their own weight, opening up the interior of'the sealing tube. and he will thus be able to project the ventilatingconduit through the tube 10 extending the opening 22a in the slug 22 toa position of six or more inches from the vault wall. Inasmuch as the fan is already running, it will only be necessary to project the intake conduit far enough outward so that an adequate supply of fresh air maybe obtained. The foul air will then escape .on tllGOlltSlClB of the intake conduit and an adequate replenishment of air may be obtained.

Exterior of the vault, no indication of the device appears. A small rosette may be fastened by any desired means to the sealing plug 22 or if the end is merely painted over, the close fit provided will defy detection. Further, even if a burglar should attempt destruction of the sealing plug, it is obvious that his efforts will be unavailing. He cannot force the plug inward because of the taper fit. He cannot draw it out because of the cam actuating closing mechanism, the vertical po sition of the intake conduit and the reduced apertures in the locking collars. Nor can he rotate the plug because of the tube 20 being held in vertical position by the switch arms 38 and 38). 7

It is also obvious that with the present construction, the operator does not have to waste valuable time searching for tools to open the ventilator tube or to break the seal of the ventilator tube or to unscrew a handwheel. The operator also does not have to search for and place in position a portable fan or the like nor do anything in fact which requires undue strength or exertion in a foul atmosphere and under trying conditions. The present ventilator is permanently installed in the vault wall and is always in position. It is merely necessary to grasp the operating handle, lower the intake conduit, automatically unsealing the ventilator sleeve and finally thrust the mechanism through the ventilator sleeve. The skid 260 permits the greatest of ease and least resistance for this purpose and in the meantime, without thought on the operators part, the motor is started, lights are lit, and the outside alarm is sounded.

While I have shown a preferred form of embodiment of my invention,-it is to be understood that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim 1. In combination with a vault wall, a sleeve projected therethrough, a sealing plug in one end thereof, an intake conduit, a second conduit secured to said sealing plug and in pivotal connection with said intake conduit. said intake conduit adapted to be brought into alignment with said second conduit to project both conduits through said sleeve and to open an intake communication through said wall.

2. In combination with a vault wall, a sleeve projected therethrough, a sealing plug normally sealing one end thereof, a mounting plate on the interior end, a conduit in communication with said sealing plug, an intake conduit, a locking knuckle pivoting the first conduit to said intake conduit, locking collars on said mounting plate provided with cam surfaces, said locking collar having a cooperating cam surface, said intake con uit being adapted to be rotated into alignment with said first conduit, simultaneously engaging said cam surfaces to project said sealing plug from said sleeve, said intake conduit'being subsequently adapted to be projected through said sleeve into communication with the exterior of the vault wall.

3. In combination with a vault wall having a hole therein, a sleeve permanently secured in said hole, a two-part conduit in said sleeve means to seal the sleeve against opening from the outside when the conduit is in inoperative position and the parts are at an angle to each other, and means to automatically open the hole to the circulation of air therethrough by the movement of the conduits to operative position in alignment.

4. In combination with a vault wall having a ventilating opening therethrough, a conduit permanently secured in the opening providing a flow of air therethrough, means for sealing said opening against entrance from the outside when the conduit is inoperative, means to break the seal when the conduit is moved to operative position, said conduit providing circulation of air in two directions through said opening.

5. The combination with a vault wall hav i1" ing an opening at right angles therethrough, of a jointed ventilating tube, a plug on one leg of said tube for sealing said opening against burglar attack when the ventilator is in inoperative position, a counterweight on another leg of said tube, means to break the seal and permit circulation of air through the vault when said counterweighted leg moved to operative position, and means to draw said plug into said opening to seal the vaultwhen the counterweighted leg is moved to inoperative position.

6. The combination with a vault wall, a conduit therein, a sealing plug non-rotatably secured thereto and adapted to exteriorly seal said sleeve against burglarious attack, a mounting plate on the interior end of said sleeve, an intake conduit, a locking knuckle joining said intake conduit and said first mentioned conduit, locking collars mounted on said mounting plate, said locking collars having cam surfaces thereon cooperating with said locking knuckle, said cooperation adapted to force said sealing plug from the ventilating sleeve and to draw said plug into firm position on movement of said intake conduit.

7. A vault ventilating mechanism permanently mounted in and secured to a vault wall having an opening therethrough comprising a sleeve in said opening, means to open communication through said sleeve, and means whereby the movement of said opening means from the operative to the inoperative position will sea-1 said sleeve, and whereby the movement of said opening means from the inoperative to the operative position will sleeve under high pressure.

8. A ventilating device for a vault comprising a sealed sleeve projected therethrough, a two part conduit secured thereto, one of said conduit parts being pivoted to the second conduit part and normally in right angle relation thereto, and cam means at said pivot whereby movement of said first conduit part will force said second conduit part through said sealed sleeve to open a double path of ventilation into said vault.

9. A'ventilating device for a vault comprising asealed sleeve projected therethrough, a

two part conduit secured thereto, one of said conduit parts being pivoted to the second conduit part and normally in right angle relation thereto, and cam means at said pivot whereby movement of said first conduit part will force said second conduit part through said sealed sleeve to open a double path of Ventilation into saidvault and means to mount a motor fan ventilator at the extreme end of one of said conduit parts to aid in moving said second conduit part through said sealed sleeve and to automatically position said ventilator in operative position when said sleeve seal is broken.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my 0 signature to this specification.

CLARENCE D. ELLITHORPE.

open the 

